Method and machine for splicing rubber tubes



Aug. 2, 1932.

O. HOMIER ET AL.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SPLIGING RUBBER TUBES F:"Lled July 26, 1950' 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z'7L/E' 2772755 aux-27 fiif 5- 1932- o. HOMIER ET AL 1,869,690

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SPLICING RUBBER TUBES Aug. 2, 1932. o. F. HOMIER ET AL 1,869,690

' METHOD 111D MACHINE FOR SPLICING RUBBER TUBES Filed July 26, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 azz/E' Z* aux? K) j] AJE7 A118, 1932- o. F. HOMIER ET AL 1,859,690

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SPLICING RUBBER IUBES Filed July 26; 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 5 inf-77755 U272: FHEMFEE Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED s'|'.a."rE:s PATENT OFFICE I OTTO HOMIER AND HARVEY L. YOUNG, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE B. F.

GOODRICH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METHOD AND ,MACHINE FOR 'SPIICINGBUBBER TUBES Application filed July 26, 1880. Serial No. 470,833.

Our invention relates to a method of splicing tubes for pneumatic tires or for splicing other similar tubin and to apparatus for carrying out the'met od. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of cut-splicing or seaming unvulcanized rubber tubes during their-manufacture and to a machine for cut-splicing or seamingtubes.

Methods have heretofore been proposed whereb the ends of the tubes to be spliced are cu ed over tubular cutting dies'adapted to be forced toward each other until the cufled portions are pinched off between the dies and the tubes are seamed in abutting relation.

.One of the objects of our invention is to devise a method of performing the seaming and/or cutting operation whereby a. strong seam may be obtained without the application of such great force as has been necessary in prior practices. A further object is to provide for conveniently obtaining high pressure per unit of area of the joined faces of the stock.

V the seam.

Another object is to provide apparatus by means of which our method may be conveniently performed.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims. I

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our apparatus for splicing tubes, I

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of'part of the clutchoperating'mechanism, looking in the direction of 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the upper die member and its guiding and supporting mechanism,

horizontal section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

ig'. 8 is a horizontal section online 8-8 of Fig. 7, v 1

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view through the cutting and seaming dies illustrating the g method of splicing,

Fi 10 is a detail elevation of the dies showmg a modified form in which the dies arerotated and additional rotating cutters are provided for severing the flanges, and

F1 11 is a detail sectional view of the seammg dies of the modified form of Fig. 10 illustratin the seam-compressing and trimming mec anism andvacuum holding mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 9, weutilize a pair of tubular opposed dies or seaming jaws 1 and 2 through whlch the-tube ends 3 and 4 are passed and reversed as at 3, 4'. Such dies or seaming 1 jaws are well known in the art as shown by the Coe Patent No. 1,693,637 and the Warner Patent 1,687,811 and may be of. the types shown in either of these patents, or of any other desirable form. Suitable supporting so means designed to force the'dies or jaws toward each other may also be provided. In practicing our method, however, we provide, either by rotating the jaws on axes at a sli ht angle to each other, or by a wobbling motlon imparted to one or more of the jaws, for progressively uniting the cuffed portions of the tube by progressive contact or approach of the jaws. This may be accomplished by holding the jaw 2 stationary while first causing the upper jaw to approach to the full-line osition of Fig. 9 and thereafter be a wob-- ling motion, such as amotion wherein the upper end of jaw 1 is moved in a circle while the lower end is maintained in align- 96 ment with the jaw 2, successively bringingthe upper jaw in contact with the lower jaw. At half a revolution the upper jaw will assume the dotted line position shown in the figure. 10o

Our invention may also be practiced by causing the jaws to approach each other while imparting a wobbling motion to both jaws, as by fixing their respective axes at points equally remote from the zone of the desired seam, and bodily moving their opposed ends in a closed path to efiect progressive seaming.

Another way of practicing the invention is to arrange the axes of the jaws so that they are angularly disposed as in Fig. 9 and intersect at the abutting point, and by rotating both jaws on their respective axes in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows in 10, bringing successive points on the jaws in close proximity. The jaws 1 and 2 may be designed to simply scam the tube ends or to perform both the operations of. cutting and seaming. and additional seaming and cutting means may be provided such as the rotating rolls or cutters 5 and 6 shown in Figs. 10 and 11. When such additional cutting means is used, it is desirable to have the jaws 1 and 2 adapted to be separated to the extent shown in Fig. 11, after the seaming operation, to enable the cutters 5 and 6 to cut the seam close to the outer wall of the tube. In this construction a pair of shields 7 and 8 are provided to hold the cufied portions of the tube in position to be trimmed after the jaws 1 and 2 are withdrawn.

The jaws 1 and 2 may also be provided with means for gripping the tube such as the vacuum opening 1', 2, through which air may be withdrawn from the cavities 1, 2 the inner walls of which are porous, thereby causing the tube tobe held against the jaws by differential pressure.

Referring now to the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this consists generally of a frame 10, in the lower part of which is fixed a cylinder 11, containing a piston 12and provided with a piston rod 13, whose upper extremity supports a crosshead 14, guided by the main frame 10, which in turn supports the lower die or seaming jaw 2. The seaming jaw is provided with a removable section 2 which is fastened to agate 15,.pivoted at 16 on the cross-head 14 and forming with the crosshead a socket for supporting the die or seaming aw. A suitable latch is provided for fastening the gate in closed position and may be operated by the handle 15when the gate is to be opened to remove the tube. Cross-head 14 is provided with a cavity 14 communicatin% with the die 2 to provide clearance for the tu e.

The upper part of the frame 10 carries a pair of vertically spaced cross-frame members 17 and 18, fastened theretm in which a head 19 is journaled to revolve on a vertical axis in bearings 17 and 18, atthe upper extrem ity of the head 19 is keyed a. mutilated gear 20.

This gear as well as cross members 17. and 18.,

and head 19 is slotted as at 20, 17, and 18* nscaeeo to provide an opening for removing the tube from the machine. Head 19 is provided with a gate 21 hinged thereto at 21 and provided with a latch 23 and operating handle 24, (see Fig. 6). The gate when closed provides, in combination with the head 19, a continuous bearing for the upper die support.

Referring to Fig. 1, the head 19 is provided with angularly disposed chamber 19' for receiving the upper die support 22, (see Fig. 4) Theaxis of the chamber is so disposed as to intersect the axis of the lower seaming jaw 2, but is inclined in relation to the axis of the head 19 so that the upper end of the chamber is eccentric to the head 19. The upper die support 22 is held in the chamber against downward displacement by a segmental. ring 25. held in position by screws 26, and is provided with a gate 27. hinged thereto at 27 for closing a vertical slot 22 extending therethrough to admit the inner tube T. The die support is machined to provide an annular groove 22 which is continued through the gate 27' as a groove 27.

A link 28. is pivoted at 21 to the gate 21, and. at the other end. is provided with a pin 28 entering the grooves 22 and 2'! (see Fig. 6} When the head 19 and upper die support 22 are in the positions shown in Fig. 6 and the gate 21 is operated the link 28 will operate to simultaneously open the gate 27 as shown by the dotted line position, which represents the parts as opened, but when gate 21 is closed, the upper die support may freely revolve in the head 19 or vice versa.

The upper seaming die or jaw 1 is fastened to the die support and has a separable 592-.

ment 1* which is fastened to the upper die sup ort gate 27. It will therefore be seen that we have provided means whereby the entire upper part of the apparatus may be opened to provide a slot for placing or removing tubes in the upper die or seaming jaw.

We have provided means for revolving: the upper die supporting head 19 as follows: Mounted upon a braclztet 29 is an electric motor 30. which is connected by a tlexible coupling 31 to a reducinq mechanism 32 preferably of the worm type, which in turn drives a horizontal shaft 33 journale'd in the machine frame and bevel pinions 34 and 35 fixed there- 36 in which are journaled a pair of vertical shafts 37 and 38 fined to the lower extremities t which are pinions 39 and 4:0. (in the upper Mounted on the frame 10 is a cross-member erd of shaft 37 are keyed a collar 41 and a cap collar 42. Between these a collar 43 is 1 normally free to rotate and carries a bevel gear 44 keyed thereto meshing with pinion 34. Shaft 38 carries a bevel gear 45 similarly mounted for engagement with the qiinion 35. Means are provided for clutching the gears 44% and 4.5 to their respective shafts as follows:

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 collars 41 and 42 are each provided with a longitudinal half round groove 41, and 42"- in vertical alignment with each other, and the shaft 37 is provided with a mating groove 37* which coopcrates with those in collars 41 and 42 to form a passage of circular cross-section. A rock'- ing pin 46 is confined in said passage and is provided with a relieved clearance portion 46 adjacent the collar 43 and an outwardly extending arm 46 at its lower end. A torsion spring 47 is mounted in the passage above the pin 46 and has one end attached to the pin 46 and'thc other to the cap collar 42. I

Collar 43 is grooved to provide one or more internal half-round slots 43. A lever 48 is fulcrumed on a rod 49 and normally has one end extending in such position as to engage the arm 46 and hold the pin 46 in the relation shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Should the lever 48 be moved to the dotted line position of Fig. 7 the coil spring 47 will tend to turn lar mechanism simultaneously operated by a common fulcrum rod 49, Gear 20 is provided with a stop 20", and rod 49 is provided with a depending arm 50. When rod 49 is rocked to engage the clutches as just described, arm 50 will be moved into the path of stop 20". After one complete revolution of gear20, stop 20 will engage arm 50 and by rocking rod 49 retract pins 46 to the position of Fig. 8, whereupon, the power being disconnected. gear 20 and head 19 will cease to rotate. The mechanism may of course be varied from the preferred form as long as the same result is accomplished. By providing two driving pinions 39 and 40 constant rive of gear 20 is assured, notwithstanding the notch 20 therein, as one pinion will always be in engagement with the gear.

Means are provided to restrain the upper die or seaming jaw from rotating with the gear 20 and head 19. This consists of a yoke 51 pivotally engaging the bolts 52 and having a shank 51* extending through an openmg in the stationary frame member 17, through which it may freely move in a lengthwise direction.

For the purpose of operatingthe clutch mechanism we provide a handled lever 53, fulcrumed at a convenient location on the main frame 10 by the stud 53. A. vertically disposed connecting rod 54 is pivoted at its upper extremity to an arm 55 fixed to the clutch operating rod 49, and at its lower extremity to one end of lever 53 and also to one end of almk 56. A pin 57, on link 56, is

free to slide in a slotted block 58 fast to the frame 10 and a tension spring 59 connects pin 57 and stud 53 tendingto normally hold pin 57 in its near position to stud 53. It

will be understood that by this mechanism,

which. we may designate as an over-center holding mechanism, rod 49 will be normally held in one of its extreme positions. rod 54 will normally be in the full-line position of Fig. 3-, and the gear 20 will be at rest. If the lever 53 is now depressed the rod 54 will be moved to the dotted line position of Fig. 3. and will be there held by the springs 59, the rod 49will be rotated to depress the free end of lever 48, engaging through rod 49, the clutches on shafts 37 and 38, and thereby causing gear 20 to rotate through one revolution, whereupon stop 20 will contact with arm 50, thereby rotating rod 49 in the reverse direction, and raising the free ends of arms 48 to a position in the paths of arm 46". On further rotation of shafts 37 and 38 arms 46 will contact with arms 48 and rock the pins 46 to release shafts 37 and38 from gears 44 and 45, thereby discontinuing the rotation of gear 20. Stop 20 is so located that the gear 20 will stop with its open side 20 as shown in Fig. 2, aligned with openings 17 and 18- in the cross members 17 and 18 in which the head 19 rotates,

whereby an open passage for inserting and removing the tube is provided when the gate 21 is opened.

' For controlling the lower seaming die or jaw, fluid under pressure is admitted to'the lower end of the cylinder 11 by means of a pipe 59 and is controlled by a valve 60 oper- The ated by a handle 61. The valve being conveniently mounted on the frame of the machine. 1 i

The operation of the various mechanisms has been heretofore explained. The general operation of the device is as follows: With the piston 13 in lowered. position and with the head 19 stationary, the operator opens the gates 15 and 27 and inserts the tube ends to be joined in the respective seaming dies or jaws. The gates 15 and 27 are then closed and the protruding ends of the tube are cuffed back over the dies .as shown in the drawings. Valve 60 is then operated to admit flu d below the piston 12 raising the lower die to bring the cuffed ends in contact at the back of the dies as shown in Fig. 9. Lever 53 is now depressed to start the rotation of head 19 which thereafter revolves through one complete revolution and stops. During such movement of the head 19 the upper die supporting member w ll be restrained from rotation by the yoke 51, but due to the fact that it is journaled in the head 19 on an axis inclined to that of the head 19. its axis will be rotated around a conical surface and during such rotation the upper die 1 will successively present each point of its edge in extreme advanced position thereby progressively seaming the tube. Thereafter,-the head 19 will cease rotating, the lower die ma be lowered by manipulating valve 60, an the seamed tube may be removed by opening the gates and 27.

Where it is desired to splice the ends of one tube to provide an endless tube We provide supporting rods 62 and 63 to support the up er part of the tube so as not to interfere wit the gear 20. These rods extend from one side only of the machine frame, so that the tube may be readily removed therefrom when desired.-

What we claim is:

1. The method of splicing tube ends which comprises adhesively uniting respective annular zones of the inner faces thereof in an annular scam by applying pressure to their outer faces by progression along the seam, and progressively trimming the excess material from the seam.

2. The method of splicing tube ends which comprises culling back the tube ends, holding the cuffed-back ortions thereof out of contact with the un erlying portions thereof and adhesively uniting respective annular zones of the inner faces thereof in an annular seam by applying pressure to their outer faces by progression along the seam.

3. 'The method of splicing tube ends which comprises effecting a relative angular movement of the ends and adhesively uniting respective annular zones of the inner faces thereof by applying pressure to their outer faces bprogression along the seam.

4. Th s method of splicin tube ends which com rises rotating the tu e ends on nonpara lel axes and adhesively uniting respective annular zones of the inner faces thereof in an annular seam by applying pressure to their outer faces by progression along the seam.

5. Apparatus for splicing tube ends comprising means for supporting a pair of tube ends in opposed relation, and means for efiecting seaming of annular zones of their inner faces by pressure applied to their outer faces to unite the tube ends by progression along an annular seam.

6. Apparatus for splicing tube ends comprising means for supporting a pair of tube ends in opposed relation, and means for effecting trimming thereof by pressure progressively applied to their outer faces along an annular line of trim.

7; Apparatus for splicing tube ends comprising means for supporting a pair of tube ends 1n opposed relation, and means for effecting seaming of annular zones of their inner faces and trimming the surplus therefrom by pressure progressively applied to their outer faces circumferentially of the tube ends along the line of scam.

8. Apparatus for splicing tube ends comaeeacee I prising means for supporting a pair of tube ends in opposed relation, means for holding cufied portions thereof from contact with said tube ends, and means for efiecting seaming of annular zones of their inner faces by pressure progressively applied to their outer faces to unite the tube ends along an annular seam.

9. Apparatus for splicing tubeends comprising means for supporting a pair of tube ends in opposed relation, means for pressing the supported ends toward each other, and means for effecting a relative angular movement of the supports to unite annular zones of the tube ends.

10. Apparatus for splicing tube ends comprising a non-rotating tube-end supporting member, a tube-end supporting member in opposed relation to said member with its axis singularly disposedthereto, and means for effecting movement of said last named member in rolling relation to said first named member. A

11. Apparatus for splicing tube ends as defined in claim 10 including means for effecting movement of the non-rotating member toward and from the other member.

12. Apparatus for splicing tube ends as defined in claim 10 in which the tube-end supporting members are provided with removable gate sections adapted to permit removal of an endless spliced tube.

13. A paratus for splicing tube ends as defined by claim 10 in which the means for efiecti'ng movement includes a revoluble head provided with an angularly disposed chamher in which the tube-end supporting member is j ournaled, and means for rotating the head around the tube-end supporting member.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 24th day of July, 1930.

OTTO F. HOMIER. V HARVEY L. YOUNG. 

